1. You may identify the stasis in the play but it isn’t necessarily at the beginning of the play. Where is it and who does it involve?
The stasis is a courtroom in San Francisco in 1978. It involves multiple witnesses, including a Frank Falzon, Cyr Copertini, and Mary Ann White. There is a jury, a judge, and other witnesses not quite giving testimony directly to the judge. The main character or topic is Dan White, the murderer, who does not actually have many lines at all in this play.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
I believe that the intrusion of the play would be when the jury is decided. The people in the jury were obviously going to be biased toward Dan White, considering the people picked were either older women or Irish Catholics, like him. People were purposefully picked so that they would sympathize with him and he would get off with an easier sentence. This sets the tone for bias for the rest of the play and basically tells us that he will get the shorter sentence, no matter the deliberation or questioning.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The only explanation of the time and place is that this play is a factual recollection of an event that actually happened in that moment in time. If it were set in another time, it would be illogical and unreliable.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic questions that the play make us ask are: will Dan White get the sentence he deserves, and is he really mentally unstable? These questions work together. The characters in the play believe he is unstable, so he gets the shorter sentence. The reality, unseen and unexplained in the play, gives us a different idea, according to what he told Frank Falzon after he was released from jail on a shorter term than sentenced.
5. Use the two lawyers to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
It is apparent that the two lawyers are at war with each other. On the other hand, Norman has more of a war with the jury than Schmidt does. Another difference is that Schmidt has a moral dilemma while Norman does not. Schmidt turns to God for help and forgiveness, trying to figure out if he is truly doing the right thing. He is not at war with God, but more like asking for help. Both have conflicts with different parts of society. Norman against those in favor of White, and Schmidt against those who are not. In a way, their conflict within the law is a conflict against society.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Execution of Justice.
The most theatrical moments came when many people were talking at once. On multiple occasions, the lawyers would be questioning witnesses while other people were speaking in between, such as Milk's friend and the young mother. The moments provided us with important information pertaining to the crime as well as how the crime affected people in their personal lives and society as a whole.
The stasis is a courtroom in San Francisco in 1978. It involves multiple witnesses, including a Frank Falzon, Cyr Copertini, and Mary Ann White. There is a jury, a judge, and other witnesses not quite giving testimony directly to the judge. The main character or topic is Dan White, the murderer, who does not actually have many lines at all in this play.
2. Ball points out that the intrusion sometimes occurs late in the dramatic action. What is the intrusion that breaks the stasis in Execution of Justice and how is it broken?
I believe that the intrusion of the play would be when the jury is decided. The people in the jury were obviously going to be biased toward Dan White, considering the people picked were either older women or Irish Catholics, like him. People were purposefully picked so that they would sympathize with him and he would get off with an easier sentence. This sets the tone for bias for the rest of the play and basically tells us that he will get the shorter sentence, no matter the deliberation or questioning.
3. Why do the events of the play take place at this particular time and place? In other words, what is the unique factor that is out of the ordinary that causes a turn of events to take place? Hint: what is the heart of the play? How does the title figure in this?
The only explanation of the time and place is that this play is a factual recollection of an event that actually happened in that moment in time. If it were set in another time, it would be illogical and unreliable.
4. State the dramatic questions that must be answered by the end of the play? (Ordinarily, the dramatic question shares a close connection with the intrusion.)
The dramatic questions that the play make us ask are: will Dan White get the sentence he deserves, and is he really mentally unstable? These questions work together. The characters in the play believe he is unstable, so he gets the shorter sentence. The reality, unseen and unexplained in the play, gives us a different idea, according to what he told Frank Falzon after he was released from jail on a shorter term than sentenced.
5. Use the two lawyers to answer the questions concerning character. Ball says, a character is revealed by what he/she does, ie. The dramatic actions that are taken. Examine what these particular characters wants. The wants of a character often encounter obstacles that get in the way of achieving those wants. Ball says there are 4 kinds of obstacles that frustrate the wants of a character. They are: a. Me against myself, b. Me against another individual, c. Me against society (that is law, social norms, etc.) and, d. Me against fate, the universe, natural forces, God or the gods. In answering these questions be sure to point to the particular obstacles that demonstrate these obstacles facing each of the lawyers.
It is apparent that the two lawyers are at war with each other. On the other hand, Norman has more of a war with the jury than Schmidt does. Another difference is that Schmidt has a moral dilemma while Norman does not. Schmidt turns to God for help and forgiveness, trying to figure out if he is truly doing the right thing. He is not at war with God, but more like asking for help. Both have conflicts with different parts of society. Norman against those in favor of White, and Schmidt against those who are not. In a way, their conflict within the law is a conflict against society.
6. The most important information in most plays takes place during theatrical moments. Identify the most theatrical moments in Execution of Justice.
The most theatrical moments came when many people were talking at once. On multiple occasions, the lawyers would be questioning witnesses while other people were speaking in between, such as Milk's friend and the young mother. The moments provided us with important information pertaining to the crime as well as how the crime affected people in their personal lives and society as a whole.